San Antonio is one of the most haunted cities in America

San Antonio has always had ghosts, but lately, it seems things are a little more spooky than normal.

By Miranda Koerner

Published
3:15 pm CDT, Thursday, October 21, 2010

Some see strange men in fur coats checking their pocket watches in the hallway.

Others wake up to see their children talking to people that aren't there. Some hear furniture moving, others see strange things that they can't believe-or just want to.

San Antonio has always had ghosts, but lately, it seems things are a little more spooky than normal.

"I believe there's more activity at this time," said Ernesto Malacara, public relations director and ghost expert of the Menger Hotel for several decades.

"A lot of people think Halloween brings on more of a influx of the spirit movement. I can't account for it, I have the same situation at the hotel. It's not that there are more ghosts, but there's more activity."

Malacara should know. The Menger Hotel is known for its ghosts, including permanent other worldly guests such as Sally White, a hotel maid seen in the halls by guests carrying a stack of towels, Captain Richard King, creator of King Ranch and others known by affectionate terms like "Frisky."

Malacara even recently traveled to Los Angeles to film a segment for an A&E program on ghosts.

"He's a ghost that likes the ladies," Malacara said. "We get these things happening in the hotel on a daily basis. This is their home. They live here. They'll stay here forever."

But the Menger isn't the only haunted hotel. Other famous stories include the story of Room 636 at the Sheraton Hotel, formerly known as the Gunter Hotel.

In this grisly story, a man murders a blond woman believed to be his mistress, chops up her body and processes through a meat grinder, leaving blood all over the room and bathroom. When the man was caught by police, he took his own life.

Haunted hotels also include the Emily Morgan, with a haunted ninth floor that was formerly the home of wounded Alamo soldiers and now treats guests to the sounds of slamming doors and moving objects during the night; the St. Anthony, where a well-dressed couple enjoys riding the elevator with guests, ghostly socialites whip in and out of the ballroom and a giggling child runs around the garden.

North of downtown, Victoria's Black Swan Inn is known for it's ghosts as much as it's elegant architecture, ranging from guests finding things in their room rearranged to seeing ghostly apparitions.

Randy Felts, of Ghosts and Legends Tours, believes that San Antonio hotels draw ghosts for particular reasons."(Hotels) are where some of the most colorful things happen," Rushing said.

"The bar at the Menger Hotel had so many famous people through it. More colorful stories happen in bars and hotels than at Walgreen's. There are a lot of hotels in SA over 100 years old. They've been around so long they've been able to get great stories-you don't hear about ghost stories in (new) hotels."

Guillermo Fuentes, creator of San Antonio Paranormal Investigations, recently finished investigating Sheraton's 636 case. He said hotels and restaurants tend to be particularly haunted because not only is there a lot of human activity over the years, but because of the ghost's personality.

"They feel that that's their area," Fuentes said.

"They feel as if they are in control and they achieved something good despite the horrible and violent crime they committed. In my opinion, that's one of the factors. The victims experienced a terrible, unexpected death and weren't ready to leave and the criminals felt they were in control."

In addition, Fuentes believes the physical of geography of San Antonio makes it particularly ghost friendly.

"In my opinion, when there's a city that's been around for so many centuries, something must be left," Fuentes said. "There will be energy left behind. With the amount of water that's around, I believe it helps harbor ghosts and poltergeist, paranormal phenomena."But it's not just hotels that are haunted. Businesses, residences, restaurants and even some local universities are reporting more otherworldly guests than ever.

JR of Alamo City Ghost Tours says that many people come either looking for a ghost or wanting to disprove ghosts exist, rather than focusing on the history of ghost stories.

"There have been so many battles and gunfights that have taken place here," JR said. "It creates a lot of energy for ghosts. I don't think those are the only people that remain behind, but I think that's why we have so many ghosts here.

"With all these ghost hunting shows, it's made it far more popular than it used to be. Most people believe what they see on television. They believe every place they go they see things happen. There's no truth to that-it's a TV show.

"The main people who come to ask me questions have had an experience they can't explain. They ask me my opinion and want to me to help them justify it."

Rhett Rushing, folklorist at Univeristy of Texas San Antonio's Institute of Texan Cultures, said that not only is San Antonio predisposed to ghost stories because of it's colorful history, but the large mix of cultures over hundreds of years makes this a ghost lover's paradise.

"Ghost stories tap into a natural curiosity," Rushing said.

"Every culture on the planet hunts ghosts. San Antonio has always been a crossroads of cultures. Each culture group brings their own ghost stories and they spread out.

"Because of the heavy Catholic Influence in San Antonio, there's still a place between death and heaven. The whole idea of ghost stories is to try and understand what happens to us after we die. None of us has any hard evidence as to what happens to us other than our bodies decay. Over time, you'll see people interjecting themes or morality tales into their ghost stories.

"We use them to scare kids into not running around where they're not supposed to be or off making out. It's a social control."

Rushing said ghost stories tend to flourish among teenagers, as stories are often filled with moral lessons such as avoiding pre-marital sex or disobeying parents.

Some of the most popular ghost stories, such as the ghost tracks on the Southside, are historically false and never took place.

Others, such as La Llorna or the devil in the dancehall, are cultural tales found in cultures outside San Antonio as well.

One thing all experts agree on - if you go looking for a ghost, don't expect to find them.

"Over the years, I've learned a few things about ghosts," Felts said.

"They're not stupid, they don't like people, and if you have an encounter with the ghost, the ghost decides when or where. You don't have a choice.

"It probably won't be on a walking tour, it'll be when you're going back to your car or alone in your hotel room. The ghost decides when it's going to happen."

Malacara agrees.

"I get more reports on things occurring in the hotel than ever right now," he said. "And now I have people checking in to see an apparition and they don't see anything. My solution is don't look for them, they'll find you."Ghost stories from around the city include:

The devil in the dancehall - Many dancehalls stretching to the top of Mexico claim to be the orgin of this tale, including San Antonio dancehalls. In the story, a beautiful young girl wants to go dancing. Her father, aware of her beauty and young age, refuses. She sneaks out to the dancehall anyway, but refuses to dance with just any young man. She will only dance with the most gorgeous man in the room. The couple dances, in a fast and furious flurry of passion. As everyone watches, one patron realizes the man has the feet of a chicken and a panic ensues. After the mob clears, everyone discovers the young girl on the floor near death, her face scratched and marred.

The Donkey Lady - Though there is no proof behind the Donkey Lady either, plenty of people still believe in her. The story is back in the 1950s, a woman lost her children in a fire her husband started. The fire left her horribly disfigured, and she went insane and dwelled under the rumored bridge. People believe if they drive their cars across the bridge at night and stop, the donkey lady will come either chase your car, beat on your car with her "hooves" or simply appear. Some believe if she is trying to break through the car to maim or kill you.

The Chinese cemetery - The story is that the great grandfather of previous owners forbid an uncle of Anglo-Hispanic origin from marrying his love, a seven-foot tall Chinese woman.

The couple died, through unclear details, and their ghosts now roam the cemetery looking for each other.

If you drive to the edge of the cemetery with the windows down, the rumor is the Chinese woman will touch the passengers.